Albany Airport Authority board fires CEO Phil Calderone

ALBANY, N.Y. ( NEWS10 )– The Albany County Airport Authority decided to relieve CEO Phil Calderone of his duties in a meeting on Wednesday. In a news release following the meeting, the board described several scenarios that led them to the decision.

The decision to cut ties with the former CEO comes after a written notice was issued on Monday, Aug. 12, not to renew his contract, which would expire on Sunday, Dec. 1. Additionally, the board said Paragraph 7 of the employment agreement factored into their decision, saying it was based on cause, according to a news release from the board.

“Over the course of the last five years, it had become increasingly apparent that Mr. Calderone was not going to maintain a relationship with the Authority Board that is typically expected of a CEO that reports to a Board and its members,” the release said. “Over the course of that time, the Board as a whole, and each Board Member individually, experienced Mr. Calderone’s unwillingness to authentically collaborate and fully cooperate with the Board in what we viewed as our performance of our duties and responsibilities.”

From Calderone not meeting or communicating with board members outside of formal meetings to refusing a directive by the board to consider applicants for a Public Information Officer, the board said they voted for his termination also because of a lack of trust. Calderone also violated procurement protocols when contracts were awarded to vendors he favored, allowing them to split invoices and payments. Hence, according to the Albany Airport Authority, they fell under a $50,000 threshold for which he would need to seek board approval.

According to the board, former Albany County Airport Authority General Counsel Peter Stuto will serve as the acting CEO until a permanent replacement is found. Alongside Stuto, John O’Donnell will serve as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the ongoing $100 million expansion and any new construction projects.

O’Donnell was the airport’s CEO from 2003 to 2019, overseeing the prior $200 million expansion. Stuto and O’Donnell have over 50 years of collective experience in airport leadership.

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